Sandy M’s review of Line of Fire (Firefighters of Station Five, Book 4) by Jo Davis
Contemporary Romance published by Signet 4 May 10

I really enjoy seeing an author grow and come into her own in her writing. Jo Davis is definitely doing that with her Firefighters of Station Five books. Granted, so far I’ve read only the first and fourth books, but I can see a marked growth in her work. Kudos, Ms. Davis. You’re doing a terrific job.

This is a younger man-older woman theme, which I normally don’t care for, but Ms. Davis handles it extremely well. I like all of the characters a lot and, of course, that helps.

Tommy is a firefighter, a job that really wasn’t his calling. He’d been on the fast track heading into pro football when his brother is killed. Feeling his parents needed him at home then, though he feels his mother in some way blames him for their tragedy, he left college and his dreams behind, eventually joining Station Five in Sugarland, Tennessee.

He’s had a thing for Shea for a while, but she’s concerned about their age difference. She’s a nurse and is on duty when Tommy suffers injuries during a dangerous rescue attempt. I have to say that scene is a very well written and really gets emotion and danger across to the reader. I was riveted throughout.  In fact, all of the rescue/firefighting scenes are very powerful.

Shea begins to look at their relationship more closely, perhaps she’s being too one-track-minded on the age issue. So she dumps the city manager she’d been seeing – she never liked him much anyway – and gives herself a chance with Tommy. It’s the best thing she’s ever done, even despite a horrible incident in her past. But she tells Tommy about it and suddenly all is fine.

There have been a number of arson fires in both Nashville and Sugarland, and later Tommy is injured again, this time much more seriously, while fighting one of these fires. He eventually turns away from Shea, believing she doesn’t need his new problems in her life. He basically cops out of his life for a bit until the crew from the station house gang up on him and chew his butt about his attitude.

These last two issues of Shea getting over her past and Tommy’s attitude adjustment after his butt chewing are solved way too quickly and easily. Another issue, though it is better for me in this book than in the first in the series, but it fell off the wagon a few times, is the dialogue. This is where Ms. Davis has definitely grown in her writing. There are spots that need a little extra work, but for the most part the dialogue just sounds and reads better than before.

Other than those two issues, this is a good read. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, and I’m really looking forward to Sean’s book, which is up next, Ride the Fire. This man has some seriousness going on and I can’t wait to find out what happens.

Grade: B

Summary:

To his fellow firemen, Tommy Skyler has it all. But the golden boy of Station Five hides a private pain. He was once a star quarterback until tragedy derailed his dream. Since then, he’s struggled with his choices-including his decision to become a firefighter. His one ray of light shines in beautiful nurse Shea Ford. When a dangerous rescue lands Tommy in the ER, what better opportunity to win her over? But when a conspiracy culminates in deadly arson, Tommy realizes that a ruthless enemy is closing in, threatening to destroy the couple’s love- and their lives.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: